ABSTRACT Demand for credit to finance micro enterprises is increasing throughout the world especially in least developed countries including Tanzania. Many entrepreneurs are emerging nowadays in different areas of the country especially Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Mbeya, and Mwanza. So far, small enterprises have become the main source of income to many peoples in the country. Apart from the efforts made to the financial institutions, there is little empirical evidence to show that, ...
PATTERNS AND DETERMINANTS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ABSTRACT The main objective of this study was to evaluate the patterns and determinants of fruit and vegetable consumption in urban and rural areas of Enugu State, Nigeria. The study was articulated based on the fact that despite the relatively cheap and abundant sources of micro nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, there abound wide spread cases of micro nutrient deficiencies. The data was collected from primary sources through a set of...
ABSTRACT This study investigated resource use efficiency of Fadama III and non-Fadama III beneficiary rice farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected using questionnaire/interview schedule administered to a sample of one hundred and twenty rice farmers, selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier production function, return to scale analysis, gross margin analysis, net farm income analysis and likert sca...
ABSTRACT This study was conducted with the aim of assessing factors that influence SEDA agricultural credit rationing to smallholder farmers in Dodoma Municipality and Bahi District. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 smallholder farmers. Binary logistic and linear regressions models were used to analyse the influence of farmer’s socio-economic characteristics on credit demand and factors influencing SEDA agricultural credit rationing respectively. Desc...
ABSTRACT The rise of contract farming and vertically integrated firms of production and marketing is undoubtly one of the most important changes in Tanzania economy. The study examined new role of contract farming (CF) in Tanzania towards designing partnership model in the light of transformation and industrialization of agriculture. The specific objectives were (i) To describe contractual arrangement found in the study area (ii) To examine the role of contractual arrangement in reducing tra...
ABSTRACT Agriculture sustains the livelihoods of about 80% of Tanzanian households. Cotton is amongst the two most important export cash crops in Tanzania and the first for the Western cotton-producing zone. Although Tanzania’s cotton output has increased, average cotton yields in the country reported being only 760 kg /ha though yields of about 1200 kg/ha can be realized. The objective of this study was to measure the performance of cotton smallholder farmers. Technical factors that affec...
ABSTRACT The study was conducted in order to assess performance in revenue collection from fresh water fishes at Nyamagana Municipal Council. Specifically the study aimed at identifying sources of revenue from fishery sub sector at the Municipality; determining revenue collection gap between 2000 and 2010; as well as determining administrative factors that influence revenue collection performance and assessing extent sub sectoral factors influence revenue collection in the fishery sub sector...
ABSTRACT In this study, the factors that influence rural producer organizations in facilitating smallholder farmers to access to agricultural markets were studied. The study used survey data from 120 smallholder farmers (86 members and 34 non-members of smallholder farmer organizations). The study sample was selected using a stratified random sampling technique based on a number of farmer organisations. The study employed a triangulation of data from both primary and secondary data sources. ...
ABSTRACT Adoption of improved agricultural varieties in Africa is low. This situation is not different in Ethiopia. Though increasing yield is a priority, a mere increase in production does not motivate farmers to adopt new varieties. When farmers are able to produce more and can sell in the output markets, they will have much more incentive to adopt the new varieties and be productive. This study, therefore, aims at evaluating the impact of the adoption of improved maize varieties on farmer...
ABSTRACT The study explored the groundnut gendered yield gap and socio-economic factors for groundnut production in Tanzania. The study was based on ICRISAT survey data collected from 938 farmers randomly selected in 9 producing regions namely; Shinyanga, Mwanza, Geita, Dodoma, Tabora, Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa and Mtwara representing different socio-cultural and agro-ecological zones. Data were analyzed using the stochastic frontier production function to establish the groundnut yield gap and f...
ABSTRACT Smallholder farmers lack knowledge on the amount of income lost from improper grain management after harvest thus they make uninformed decisions on the storage technique to use. This study aimed at assessing the economics of grain storage techniques in Kilosa district in Tanzania. Specifically, the study aimed at performing a cost benefit analysis of grain storage techniques, to determine farmers’ perceptions on the effectiveness of grain storage techniques and to establish determ...
EXTENDED ABSTRACT Large-scale agricultural investments have the potential of improving household livelihood outcomes among households participating in the out-grower schemes and in the investor farm wage employment. However, there is no consensus whether large-scale agricultural investments generate better livelihood outcomes for participating households. This study was conducted in Kilombero Valley in Tanzania to examine socio-economic determinants of household participation in large-scale ...
ABSTRACT Recently there was decline in fish volume captured from natural resources including Nile tilapia from Lake Victoria, which eventually created the opportunity for Nile tilapia farmers to venture in covering the gap. The study aimed to analyze the value chain of Farmed Nile tilapia in Coast, Dar es Salaam, Mwanza and Geita Regions. The regions were purposive selected due to their potential in fish farming and fishing activities of communities in those areas.The overall objective was t...
ABSTRACT This study was undertaken to assess the market efficiency of Jatropha value chain by assessing the Jatropha market channels, pricing efficiency, profitability and price transmissions. The data were collected from a sample of 130 Jatropha market chain actors who were randomly selected from the Monduli and Arumeru Districts using a structured questionnaire. Concentration indices were estimated to assess the market power. Market margin was used to estimate the differences between the s...
ABSTRACT This study analysed the performance of cashewnut production and marketing in Mkuranga District. More specifically, the study dealt with identifying major problems affecting cashewnut production and marketing, profitability of cashewnuts and its competing crop enterprises. In addition, an analysis of factors influencing buyers’ net profit was done. The survey was conducted using a sample of 120 households, 24 traders and four secretaries of primary cooperatives. A structured interv...